Slug casting machine



R. R. MEAD SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec.

May 3, 1 938.

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SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet a May 3, 1938. R E 2,116,035

' SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1956 8 sheets sheet T 11v VENTOR BY W2 ZTTORNEYJ' y 3, 1938. R. R. MEAD 2,116,035

swe CASTING MACH'INE v Filed Dec. 10, 1936 8 Sheets-Shag? 8 F 025 I I g, E P F INVENTOR Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES .PATT FICE SLUG CASTING MACHINE tion of New York Application December 10, 1936, Serial No. 115,089

48 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in United States Letters Patent to Frolander, No. 1,971,400, wherein circulating matrices and expansible spacebands are composed in line by the manipulation of a keyboard, the composed line presented to the face of a slotted mold and between a pair of line clamping jaws, the jaws moved relatively one toward the other to quad the line at one end, or each toward the other for quadding the line at both ends, the mold thereafter moved forwardly into contact with the composed line for the casting of a type bar or slug, and the matrices and spacebands subsequently separated and returned by the distributing mechanism to the magazines from which they started.

More particularly, the present improvements contemplate a machine of this character which r will facilitate the casting of slugs for use in printing return addresses on envelopes.

As a rule, the return address on an envelope consists of three or four printed lines varying in length but centered with respect to each other,

-. and with the longest line spaced at a given distance from the left end of the envelope. The casting of slugs of this character in commercial machines is attended with considerable difiiculty involving slow, tedious and painstaking work. ;This difficulty, as will be appreciated by those familiar with linotype composition, comes from the fact that the slug bearing the longest type line requires to be quadded at the right, while the lugs bearing the shorter type lines require to be quadded both at the left and right in such manner that the shorter type lines will be centered with reference to the longest quadded type line. While the quadding and centering devices with which the commercial machines are sometimes equipped permit the casting of slugs quadded at either or both ends of the type line, these devices nevertheless, as now constituted, are not susceptible of operation to produce the desired result. 45, The machine equipped with the present improvements is like that shown in the Frolander patent, in the respect that the two line clamping jaws areimounted on movable supports actuated through two distinct trains of connections from a vertically movable rod controlled directly from the main shaft of the machine, provision being made for connecting both jaw supports to the rod, so that they can be moved equidistantly toward each other until arrested by the contact of their respective jaws with the opposite ends of the composedline (for centering), and for connecting the right hand jaw support to the vertically movable rod, so that the right hand jaw can be moved toward the left hand jaw until arrested by contact with the end of the composed line for quadding at the right, the conditioning of the machine for centering or quadding being effected through the medium of a horizontal slide locatable in one position or another, depending upon whether a centering or a quadding operation is desired.

The improved machine, however, contemplates certain modifications in the Frolander machine which will permit the casting of slugs in groups constituting each a return address, and with the first or longest line of each group quadded at the right and the other or shorter lines of the group quadded at both ends in a manner to center such lines with respect to the longest quadded line. When the slugs are thus cast, the first line of the group will have a fixed location with reference to the left end of the slug, so that the group. of slugs when locked up in the printing form will print the return address on the envelope with the longest line the proper distance from the left end thereof and with the shorter lines centered with respect thereto.

The conditioning of the improved machine for casting slugs in groups of the above character is effected automatically according to a prearranged sequence. This automatic conditioning of the machine is effected through the medium of a star wheel actuated from the first elevator and having a step by step movement. The star wheel acts to locate the horizontal conditioning slide in its different positions and, depending upon the design of the star wheel, which is selected according to the number of lines in the return address, will condition the machine automatically for one quadding operation at the right end of the line and for any desired number of subsequent centering operations.

In the improved machine, the right hand jaw is movable with respect to its jaw support and after the longest line, which is quadded at the right, has been cast, the jaw support is returned to its normal position, but the right hand jaw is held stationary in its quadding position by mechanism including locking devices located on the fixed vise frame. In the next cycle, the machine is automatically conditioned for a centering operation, through the medium of the star Wheel, previously alluded to. In addition to conditioning the machine for a centering operation, however, the conditioning slide performs two additional functions: First, it releases a series of spring-pressed pawls mounted in the right hand jaw support and allows them to engage ratchet teeth on the right hand jaw to lock the jaw to its jaw support and maintain them in the relative positions which they then occupy, i. e., with the jaw in its quadding position and the jaw support in its normal position. Second, the conditioning slide releases the locking devices on the vise frame, so that the jaw and its supporting block may be reciprocated as a unit. Consequently, when the second line of the return address is presented to the mold, it will be centered with respect to the line previously cast, since both jaws will move equi-distantly toward each other until arrested by contact with the opposite ends of the line but from initial positions coincidental with the ends of the quadded line cast in the previous machine cycle. As long as the machine is conditioned for centering, the right hand jaw is locked to its jaw support in the relative position, determined by the first or longest line of the group during the quadding of such line. Consequently, all of the other lines of the group will be centered with respect to such quadded line.

At the beginning of the machine cycle in which the first slug of the next group of slugs is cast, the pawls will be disengaged from the right hand jaw and the latter is allowed to return to its original or normal position. Thereafter, the previous sequence of operations is automatically repeated for the new group of slugs.

As a subsidiary feature of the present invention, an arrangement has been provided, whereby the slugs for the return addresses may be of the fudge variety, 1. e., formed with bevelled ends by which they are clamped in a fudge box or a printing cylinder. Heretofore, in casting such slugs, the fudge molds have their body, cap and liner portions formed with bevelled recesses at the ends of the mold slot, and the line clamping jaws are provided with complementary bevelled blocks arranged to fit the recesses and close the mold slot at its ends during the slug casting operation, thus requiring that the line clamping jaws have a fixed location during each casting operation. In the present arrangement, the same type of fudge mold is used, but the bevelled .blocks, instead of being carried by the line clamping jaws, are secured to the fixed vise frame, although they are backed up by the line clamping jaws through a tongue and groove connection which permits the jaws to move longitudinally with respect thereto. With this arrangement, the line clamping jaws may assume any position, as determined by the length of the line being cast and the conditioning of the machine (i. e., for quadding or centering), while the bevelled blocks will always be located in the proper positions for closing the mold slot at the ends to form the bevelled portions of the slugs.

Another feature of the present invention deals with the mechanism for transferring the composed line through the intermediate channel to the line transporter or first elevator which presents the composed line to the mold. In the regular commercial machine, the line delivery carriage is equipped with a pair of depending fingers, between which the line is located by the assembler elevator prior to its transfer, and the right hand finger is fixed to the carriage and during transfer pushes the line to the left until it picks up the left hand finger, the latter being movable on the carriage. With such an arrangement, the line is presented in casting position with its trailing end adjacent the right hand jaw, the latter always being located in a definite normal position. With the present improvements however, it will be recalled that the right hand jaw, prior to the casting of a line to be centered, may be located to the left of its normal position, and thus would, unless otherwise provided for, interfere with the presentation of subsequent lines to the mold. Accordingly, provision is made for the presentation of the composed lines to the mold with the leading end thereof adjacent the left hand jaw. No interference between the lines and the right hand jaw can therefore occur, since for the first or longest line of a group, the right hand jaw will be in its normal position of maximum separation and, since all of the subsequent lines in the group will be shorter than the first and consequently will clear the right hand jaw, even though it stands to the left of its normal position.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equipped with the present improvements, and with the parts in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation, showing the parts immediately after the longest or first line of a group comprising a return address has been presented to the mold for quadding at the right, the first elevator being broken away to show portions of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is also a similar elevation, showing the parts immediately after the first elevator has started to ascend after the casting of the longest quadded line;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 -3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the first elevator directly above the vise frame, and showing the parts just prior to the quadding of the longest line;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on line 5-5 of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the star wheel, and showing the parts adjusted to active position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of the star wheel shown in Fig. 6, but with the parts adjusted to inactive position;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. '7; a

Fig. 9 is a front view of the star wheel mechanism shown in Fig. 6, but equipped with a dlfferent star wheel element;

Fig. 10 is a. partial horizontal sectional View on line l0l0 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a partial horizontal sectional View on line ll-H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a plan View, partly in section, of the mechanism for locking the right hand jaw in its quadding position after the first or longest slug of a group of slugs has been cast;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on line I'M-42 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on line l3l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line |4-|4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the vise frame, looking at the machine from the right, and showing the mechanism for effecting the disengagement of the right hand jaw from its Jaw support, the mechanism being shown in its inactive position;

Fig. 16 is an end elevation, partly in section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15, the mechanism being shown however, in active position;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the right hand vise jaw andits jaw support, the latter being partly in section to show the mechanism for locking the jaw to its support indifferent relative positions as determined by the length of the longest line of a series;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanismfor unlocking the right hand jaw from its jaw support;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the right hand jaw support, a portion of the right hand jaw, and the bevelled closing block for closing the fudge mold at the right end;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the right hand jaw support;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the fudge mold;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the bevelled end block for closing the fudge mold at the right end;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a group of three slugs cast pursuant to the present invention; and

Figs. 24 to 30 are diagrammatic views, showing the different locations of the jaws and their respective jaw supports during a plurality of machine cycles in which the group of slugs bearing a return address are cast.

The matrices X and expansible spacebands Y x are composed in line in the assembler A (Fig. 1)

under the restraining influence of a line resistant (not shown) which can be set for lines of different length, all in the usual way. After the line has been composed, the assembler is raised to position the line between the fingers of the line delivery carriage B, which thereupon moves to the left (and in doing so inaugurating the operation of the machine) and transfers the composed line through the intermediate channel B into the vertically movable transporter or first elevator C slidably mounted in the vise frame D. Upon receiving the line, the first elevator immediately descends to position it between the left hand jaw E and the righthand jaw F and in front of the slotted mold G, which latter then advances from the rear and into contact with the line and the two clamping jaws for the slug casting operation, the line, prior to casting, being alined and justified in the usual way when the machine is being operated under the usual conditions. After the slug has been cast, the mold is carried from its horizontal casting position to a vertical ejecting position by a threequarter rotation of the mold disc, the first elevator in the meantime being raised to deliver the composed line to the matrix and spaceband distributing devices and finally coming to rest in its original or line receiving position.

The machine is equipped for quadding and centering and, to this end, the jaws are mounted for movement in the vise frame in the customary manner, being carried by supporting blocks E and F slidably in suitable guideways formed in the vise frame. The two jaws E and F are movable toward and from each other by a periodically operated part in the form of a vertically movable rod H, which may be connected at its upper end to the respective jaws E and F through the medium of two similar but oppositely disposed bell crank levers E and F pivoted at E and F to the vise frame D, the longer arms of said levers being connected by short links E and F to the jaw supports respectively, and the shorter arms of said levers being arranged for connection to the rod H. According to this arrangement, when the rod H is moved downwardly from its uppermost position (which is its normal position of rest), it will move the two jaws equidistantly toward each other (assuming both to be connected to the rod) until they contact with the opposite ends of a composed line which has previously been positioned between them and, when the rod is moved upwardly for restoration to its position of rest, it will, in like manner, move the jaws equi-distantly away from each other to return them to their original positions of maximum'separation, provision being made for lines varying in length by varying the extent of movement of the rod H, all as more fully described in the Frolander Patent No. 1,971,400, reference to which may be had for a more detailed description of the parts.

Provision is made for connecting and disconnecting the rod H with and from the jaws E and F, and for this purpose (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) there is mounted on the rod at its upper end, for rotation only, a grooved collar H for engagement with diametrically opposed pins e protruding inwardly from the extremities of the horizontal arms of the actuating levers E and F for the jaws E and F, respectively. In the commercial machine, the upper portion of the grooved collar H presents a plurality of segments which can, by the rotation of the collar, be arranged selectively to cooperate with either one or both of the jaw operating levers E and F for quadding at either end of the line, or for centering, or disconnected from both levers when the machine is to' be used for regular operation. With the improved attachment however, only two positions of adjustment of the collar H are used, one wherein the lever F actuating the right hand jaw only is connected to the vertically movable rod H for right hand quadding, and the other wherein both jaw actuating levers E and F are connected to said rod for centering.

The collar H is moved to its various positions of adjustment by a slide J arranged in horizontal guideways J mounted at the front of the vise frame and operating through the medium of a series of rack teeth formed on a block J carried by the slide, a pinion H meshing with the rack teeth, and a pair of bevelled gears (not shown), one formed at the top of the collar, and the other on a short fore-and-aft shaft to which the pinion H is fixed. The slide is urged toward the left by a tension spring J fastened at the left end thereof and having an anchorage in the vise frame. When the slide is in its leftmost position, the machine is conditioned for a centering operation; whereas, when the slide is moved to the right, the machine is conditioned for quadding with the right hand jaw, both positions of adjustment (see Fig. 1) being indicated by markings on the upper horizontal guide J labelled, respectively, Cent, indicating centering, and Quad, indicating right hand quadding, and a cooperating pointer carried by the slide J.

As previously stated, the present improvements contemplate the casting of slugs in groups constituting each a return address, and wherein the first or longest line of each group is quadded at the right, and the other lines of the group centered with respect to the longest line. The casting f the first line of a group involves a true quadding operation and the conditioning of the machine accordingly, 1. e., the adjustment of the conditioning slide J to its rightmost position. Although the casting of subsequent lines of a group do not involve a true centering operation (that is, insofar as the mold slot is concerned, since with regard to the mold slot, these lines are located asymmetrically with respect to the center line thereof in 'a position depending upon the length of the longest line) the machine is nevertheless conditioned as if it were a true centering operation, i. e., both jaws are connected for movement by the vertically movable rod H which, as mentioned previously, involves the adjustment of the conditioning slide J to its leftmost position.

The positioning of the conditioning slide J is effected automatically, the mechanism for this purpose including a star wheel K rotatably mounted on a stud K projecting forwardly from the vise frame and arranged to be rotated with a step by step movement in a clockwise direction (see Figs. 1 to 4). The mechanism also includes a bell crank lever J fulcrumed on the vise frame at the front and having its lower arm pivotally connected to the conditioning slide J at the left end of the latter, the upper or horizontal arm of said lever being adapted to cooperate with prongs K on the star wheel. According to this arrangement, as the star wheel K is moved to bring any of the prongs thereof into cooperative engagement with the lever J the latter will be actuated to move the conditioning slide to the right (Fig. 3); whereas, when such prong moves out of cooperative engagement with the lever, the conditioning slide will be moved to the left by the pull of the spring J (Fig. l).

The step by step movement of the star wheel K is eifected by a toothed ratchet wheel K formed at the inner end of a sleeve K rotatably mounted on the stud K (Figs. 4, 6 and 7), and operated by a lever K through the medium of a pawl K pivotally mounted in the lever and spring-pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The lever K is freely mounted on the sleeve K of the ratchet wheel and is resiliently held in its normal or horizontal position against turning by a tension spring K connected to an arm K of said lever and anchored in the vise frame (Fig. 3). At the beginning of each machine cycle, a spring pressed pin C mounted in the first elevator (see Figs. 1 and 4) immediately above the lever K when the parts are in normal position, will, as the first ..elevator starts to descend, engage a projection is formed in the end of said lever and turn it against the tension of the spring K from the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown by the dotted lines therein, and

:thus rotate the ratchet wheel K through an increment of one tooth with an equivalent rotation of the star wheel, the latter being connected to the ratchet wheel in a manner hereinafter described. As the first elevator continues to descend, the pin C passes beyond the lever K allowing the latter to return to its normal position, which it does under the tension of the spring K retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel being prevented by another pawl K pivotally mounted on the vise frame and likewise spring-pressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The projection k on the lever K is bevelled at the bottom to allow the pin C to ride past the lever without interference during the ascent of the first elevator.

The ratchet wheel K is equipped with twelve teeth, and provision is made for changing the star wheels, so that different numbers of centered lines can be cast between each quadded line in order to accommodate return addresses composed of lines differing in number. Thus, there is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, merely by way of illustration, a combination star wheel which will permit the casting of one quadded line and two subsequent centered lines or one quadded line and eleven subsequent centered lines, the star wheel being formed with four prongs in one plane spaced at 90 intervals and one projection in another parallel plane for this purpose. The star wheel is demountably arranged on a sleeve K the inner diameter of which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the stud K on which the sleeve is mounted, in order to accommodate a spring K which reacts against a shoulder K presented at the inner end of such enlarged portion and a head K with which the'stud is formed at its outer end. The sleeve at its inner end is provided with a flat key-like protrusion K adapted to engage in one or another of a pair of diiferent sized slots K and K formed in the sleeve K on which the ratchet wheel is formed and in the end thereof adjacent the star wheel. These slots are of difierent depths and are spaced apart at an angle of 90. According to this arrangement, when the sleeve is turned to bring the protrusion K into register with the smaller slot K the star wheel will be in a position to locate the prong which provides for one quadding operation in every twelve in the path of the slide operating lever J whereas, when the sleeve is turned to bring the protrusion K into register with the larger slot K the star wheel will be in a position to locate the four pronged portion thereof, which provides for one quadding operation in every three, in the path of the lever J The protrusion K is held in the slots K and K by the spring K previously referred to. The star wheel can be rendered entirely inoperative by pulling the sleeve out to the position shown in Fig. 7, in which case the machine will be conditioned for centering all lines. The star wheel is held in this latter inactive position of adjustment by a spring-pressed detent K" in the head of the stud K and which is adapted to engage in an annular recess K formed in the inner face of the sleeve K when in the position of adjustment referred to.

As previously stated, the star wheel K is demountably arranged on the sleeve K and is properly located and held in position by a U-shaped spring clamp K one leg of which is screwed to the star wheel, as at K, and the body portion of which seats in a longitudinal slot K extending from the star wheel outwardly to the end of the sleeve. The spring clamp has an enlarged outer portion K (Fig. 8) which seats in a cross slot K arranged at right angles to the slot K previously referred to, this slot arrangement and form of clamp preventing any rotational or longitudinal movement of the star wheel with respect to the sleeve K. In order to remove the star wheel, it is necessary only to pull the outer wider portion of the clamp out of the cross slot K whereupon the star wheel can be removed from the sleeve and another one replaced thereon. In Fig. 9, a three-pronged star wheel is illustrated, which will condition the machine for casting one quadded line in every four. If desired, torsional strain can be removed from the spring K by providing the star wheel K in its inner cylindrical 7i face with a projection or feather K fitting into the slot K immediately to the rear of the spring.

With the mechanism just described, it is obvious that the machine can be conditioned automatically to quad at the right end of a line and at both ends of the line according to a prearranged sequence in any given series of successive machine cycles.

As stat-ed previously, each group of slugs, constituting a return address, consists of one slug with the line thereon quadded at the right and a plurality of slugs bearing shorter lines quadded at both ends in a manner such that the shorter lines will be centered with respect to the longest quadded line. The casting of the latter slugs is facilitated by making the right hand jaw F movable with respect to its jaw support F and, after the jaw support F has moved toward the left to effect the quadding of the longest line, the jaw F is locked against return movement in its quadding position by means on the vise frame, while the jaw support is allowed to return to its normal position. With the jaw and jaw support thus relatively located, mechanism is rendered effective, when the machine is conditioned for centering in the next cycle, to lock the jaw to the jaw support and then to release the lock which initially restrained the jaw in its quadding position in the first cycle. With the machine thus conditioned, and upon the operation of the quadding mechanism, the jaws E and F will move toward each other equi-distantly to quad the line at both ends, but as the initial position of the jaws for this operation was coincidental with the ends of the longest quadded line, subsequent lines will be centered with respect to such line and not with. the mold slot as usual.

In. order to permit relative movement between the right hand jaw F and its jaw support F the latter (see Figs. 16, 19 and 20) is formed with a portion F offset rearwardly from. the main portion of the support and at the top of which there is presented a tongue F dove-tailed into a complementary groove formed in the bottom. of the jaw, this arrangement serving to guide the jaw with respect to the jaw support during relative movement between the two. formed in its lower edge (Figs. 16 and 17) with ratchet teeth F adapted to cooperate with corresponding teeth F formed at the top of a series of three spring-pressed plunger pawls F guided for vertical movement in complementally formed recesses F in the jaw support F directly beneath the jaw. The three pawl arrangement permits finer adjustments of the jaw with respect to the jaw supporting block than. could be obtained by a single pawl with ratchet teeth of the same size.

Normally the pawls F are urged into engagement with the jaw F by springs f and, when so engaged, will lock the jaw against movement to the right relatively to the jaw support F in any position the jaw is caused to assume. It will be noted, however, that the pawl arrangement is such that the jaw support can move to the right when the jaw is held against movement even though the pawls are active, the teeth on the pawls in such cases merely riiiling over the teeth in the jaw. By moving the pawls downwardly out of engagement with the jaw, the jaw will be free for relative movement with respect to its jaw support.

The pawls F are moved out of engagement with the jaw F by a horizontal bar F (Figs. 16 and 18) formed with a bevelled nose portion F arranged The jaw F is to cooperate with complementary bevelled faces F presented at the bottom of recesses F formed in the pawls. The horizontal bar F is mounted for limited fore-and-aft movement in the jaw support F by a pair of cylindrical studs F formed at theends of the bar and slidable in holes F drilled in the jaw support for the purpose. The arrangement is such that, as the bar F is moved rearwardly, it will cam the pawls F downwardly out of locking engagement with the jaw; whereas, when the bar is released, the pawls will move upwardly under the action of their respective springs into engagement with the jaw, looking it against relative movement to the right with respect to the jaw support, as previously described. Parallel movement of the bar F is insured by a U-shaped bail member F pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft F in the jaw support and which is formed with rigid end portions F pivotally engaging in the cylindrical studs F The right hand jaw F is also formed in its front face (Figs. 13 and 1'7) with a series of rack teeth F which mesh with a pinion D formed at the lower end of a short vertical shaft D lournalled in a bracket D fixed on the vise frame. The shaft D at its upper end, is provided with another pinion D meshing with teeth a; formed on a large substantially circular plate D mounted for free rotation on a vertical stud D fixed in the base of the bracket D and which extends upwardly through a portion D of the bracket that overlies the circular plate D This circular plate (see also Figs. 4 and 12) presents the teeth at on a portion only of its peripheral edge, the remaining portion of said edge being formed. with a series of ratchet teeth (2 adapted to cooperate with a series of three spring-actuated locking pawls D guided in slots formed in a block D arranged for limited foreand-aft movement in the bracket D previously referred to. The block D as shown in Fig. 14, is formed with a base portion D in which the spring-pressed pawls" are seated, and a cap portion D screwed to the base portion and which acts to hold the pawls in place. The cap portion is slightly recessed above the pawls, as at D (Fig. 12*), so as to present a shoulder which acts to limit the movement of the pawls in a fore-and-aft direction in the block and is thickened at the center where it is drilled to receive one end of a compression spring D which reacts between said block and the fixed bracket D which latter is likewise drilled to receive the other end of said spring,

the spring tending to urge the block forwardlyto move the pawls D out of engagement with the ratchet teeth on the disc D The disc D (see Figs. 12 and 13) is connected, through the medium of screws d and an intermediate arouate-shaped spacing member D with a pulley D overlying the top portion D of the bracket and, like the disc, mounted for free rotation on the vertical stud D so that actually the disc and pulley move as one. A spiral spring D extends around the pulley D being anchored thereto at one end, and at its other end to a vertical post D fixed on the vise frame (see Figs. 1, 4 and 13).

According to this arrangement, when the jaw F moves toward the left during a quadding operation, it will, through the pinions D and D rotate the disc D in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring D by an amount depending upon the extent of movement of the jaw. Should the block D carrying the locking pawls D be moved rearwardly to effect the engagement of the pawls with the circular disc D before the jaw support F starts its return movement, the jaw F, through the disc and pinions, will be locked in its quadding position, allowing the jaw support to return to normal position alone, as previously described. When the block D is moved forwardly to disengage the pawls D from the disc, the jaw F will be returned to its normal position with respect to its jaw support under the action of the spring D assuming, of course, that the locking pawls F in the jaw support are inactive, i. e., out of engagement with the teeth F on the jaw. However, should the locking pawls D not be rendered active during a casting cycle, the jaw, under the tension of the spring D will follow the return movement of the jaw support, maintaining, of course, its set position with respect to the jaw support if it has been locked in some position other than the normal one.

Assuming now that the operator desires to cast a series of return addresses, consisting of one long line and two shorter lines, a four-pronged star wheel will be selected. The first or longest line is transferred from the assembler A through the delivery channel B to the first elevator C, which, of course, will be in its normal line receiving position, as shown in Fig. 1. As the first elevator descends to present the composed line to the mold, the star wheel K is rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby adjusting the conditioning slide J to the right, which is the setting of the slide for right hand quadding, in the manner previously described. This adjustment of the slide J connects the right hand jaw support F through its actuating lever F with the vertically movable rod H, and simultaneously disconnects the left hand jaw support E from the vertically movable rod H.

In addition to conditioning the machine for right hand quadding, however, the slide J, when adjusted to the right, performs two other functions. First, through intermediate connections described below, it moves the horizontal bar F associated with the locking pawls F rearwardly to effect the disengagement of the pawls from the jaw F, so that the right hand jaw will be returned to its normal position under the action of the spring D in the manner previously described, in the event the right hand jaw was located in some position other than normal, as a result of a previous casting operation.

The horizontal bar F is actuated as follows. When the slide J is adjusted toward the right, it banks at its left end against an adjustable banking screw Z threaded in the end of a horizontal arm L (see Figs. 10, 11 and 15) formed at the bottom of a lever L hinged on a vertical shaft D mounted in a bracket D fixed to the vise frame. The lever L has a long vertical body portion and is formed at its upper end with an arm L extending at right angles to the lower arm L of said lever. The arm L2 is connected to a lever L1 fulcrumed adjacent its center on the vise frame, through the medium of a link L pivotally connected to the lever L at its upper end, as at L and to the arm L by a ball and socket joint L According to this arrangement, when the lever L is turned in a clockwise direction, by the adjustment of the slide J to the right,

the lever L is turned from the position shown in the disengagement of the pawls F from the jaw F.

The second additional function performed by the conditioning slide J is the conditioning of mechanism which subsequently in the machine cycle renders the locking pawls D active to lock the jaw F in its quadding position. This mechanism (see Fig. 2) includes in part, a bell crank lever M pivotally mounted on the vise frame and located in its normal position by a banking pin M against which the horizontal arm of the lever is resiliently held by a tension spring M anchored in the vise frame. The mechanism also includes an L-shaped lever M arranged adjacent the bell crank lever M and likewise pivotally mounted on the vise frame. Like the lever M, the lever M is located in its normal position by a banking pin M against which the vertical arm of the lever is resiliently held by a tension spring M anchored to the vise frame. The mechanism further includes a pair of detents M and M", one (the detent M being arranged behind the lever M in a small bracket M fixed to the vise frame (see Figs. 3, l and 11), and which serves also to guide the conditioning slide J, in front of which said detent is located, and the other (the detent M in a recess m formed at the lower end of an arm M pivotally mounted on the stud that supports the lever M the detent M being located immediately at the right of and in contact with the edge of the lever M The detent M includes a cup-shaped element M arranged to seat in a recess M formed in the slide J when the latter is in its leftmost position, a ball M pressing against the lever M at the rear, and an intermediate spring M reacting between the cup-shaped member and the ball, and which exerts no pressure when the cup-shaped element M is seated in the recess M in the slide.

The detent M includes a head portion M having its outer face conical in shape where it engages the lever M a reduced stem portion M integral with the head portion and which, at its rear end, is provided with an anti-friction roller M and a spring M reacting between the head portion and the base of the recess M When the conditioning slide J is adjusted to the right to condition the machine for quaddlng right, the cup-shaped element M rides out of the recess M in the slide, thereby placing its associated spring M under compression. At the same time, the slide J moves in back of the anti-friction roller M of the second detent M so as to lock the latter against rearward movement.

It will be recalled that the various conditioning functions of the slide J are effected immediately as the first elevator C starts to descend. The first elevator continues to descend to present the line in casting position between the line clamping jaws and, when the line is so located, the vertically movable rod H likewise descends, moving the right hand jaw support F and consequently the jaw F, toward the left until it is arrested by contact with the end of the composed line. During this movement of the jaw, it will also be recalled that the circular disc D is rotated in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring D through a distance determined by the extent of movement of the jaw.

After the line has been quaclded, the casting operation follows, whereupon the first elevator starts to ascend to transfer the composed line the descent of the first elevator.

to the distributing mechanism. As the first elevator starts its ascent, and before any return movement of the jaw support F has occurred,

a spring-pressed pin C in the first elevator engages a projection m formed on the lever M, turning the lever against the tension of its spring M in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, it being understood that the projection m is bevelled at the top so as not to interfere with As the lever M is thus turned, it engages the L-shaped lever M pushing the latter to the right. The lever M through the medium of the detent M", which acts as a rigid interponent, by virtue of its conditioning by the slide J, moves the arm M in which the detent is carried from the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 11 to the position shown by the dotted lines therein. This movement of the arm M rocks the vertical shaft D in a clockwise direction through the medium of anarm M pinned to the shaft at its lower end and which is held resiliently against a banking screw M mounted in said arm by a tension spring M fastened to said arm and anchored in the lever L As the shaft D is rocked, an arm M pinned at the upper end thereof (see Fig. 12) presses against the block D whichcarries the locking pawls D moving said block rearwardly to effect the engagement of the pawls with the ratchet teeth on the disc D thus locking the disc and consequently the right hand jaw against movement. The pawls are retained in their active or locking positionby the detent M which engages in a recess m formed in the rear face of the L- shaped lever M it being recalled that said detent 'is under compression when the conditioning slide J is in its rightmost position. Merely as a precaution in the event the detent M does not act properly, a latch D is provided (see Figs. 12 and 13), hingedto the fixed bracket D on the vise frame and which drops by gravity from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 13 to the solid line position shown therein, to engage in front of the block D The latch D acts to prevent any forward movement of the block D which would permit the disengagement of the pawls D from the disc D After the right hand jaw F has been locked against movement in its quadding position as just described, the first elevator continues its ascent to the upper transfer level. The vertically movable rod H also ascends to restore the right hand jaw support F to its normal position of maximum separation, but since the jaw is locked against movement, the jaw support will return alone. In connection with this return movement of the jaw, it might be helpful at this point to recall that during the machine cycle just completed, the lever L which effects the operation of the pawl disengaging bar F in the jaw support F remains active throughout. When the jaw support was moved to the left during the quadr ding operation, however, the bar F passed from under the influence of the lever L and thus released the pawls F but, when the jaw support is returned to its normal position at the conclusion of the quadding operation, the bar F is again moved rearwardly to disengage the pawls from the jaw as it comes again into engagement with the lever L For this purpose, the lever L is formed at its lower end with a bevelled nose portion L (see Fig. 18), which moves the bar F rearwardly with a camming action.

The second line of the group constituting the return address, and which is to be centered with respect to the longest line previously cast, is now transferred in the usual way to the first elevator C. The first elevator thereupon descends and, as it does so, rotates the star wheel K, moving the prong K thereon (which, in the previous cycle, had actuated the slide operating lever J to adjust the slide to the right) out of engagement with said lever and thus allowing the slide J to be adjusted to the left under the action of its associated spring J This adjustment of the slide J, through the rotation of the collar H connects both jaw supports E and F for operation by the vertically movable rod H through the medium of the actuating levers E and F Again the conditioning slide J performs two additional functions. First, its releases the pawl actuating bar F since, as shown in Fig. 10, the slide J moves out of engagement with the lever arm L and thus frees the lever L which is then returned to its normal position (see Fig. 11) by the bar F as the spring-pressed pawls F move upwardly into engagement with the right hand jaw under the action of their associated springs. Recalling now that the right hand jaw is still in the position in which it was arrested by the quadding of the line cast in the previous cycle and the jaw support F in its normal position, these relative positions will be maintained by the pawls F The operation of the pawls F occurs during the first stage of movement of the slide J toward the left and, as the slide continues its movement, the cup-shaped element M of the detent M will ride down into the recess M in the slide (see Fig. 10), thus releasing the L-shaped lever M and allowing the latter to return to its normal position under the tension of the spring M The slide J also rides out of engagement with the anti-friction roller M of the detent M thus allowing the rock shaft D to be turned in a counterclockwise direction by the action of the spring M upon the arm M which, as will be recalled, is pinned to the rock shaft at its lower end. This rocking movement of the shaft D rotates the arm M at the upper end of the rock shaft to efiect the lifting of the latch'D (the arm M and the latch D being formed with complementary bevelled surfaces for this purpose), thereby releasing the block D which carries the locking pawls D and allowing the pawls to be moved out of engagement with the disc D by the action of the spring D At this stage of the machine cycle, namely, immediately after the slide J has been adjusted to the left, the jaw F, as previously stated, will be locked to its jaw support F but will be unlocked from the vise frame and consequently free to move with the jaw support during the centering operation to follow.

The first elevator C continues its descent to present the composed line between the line clamping jaws. The vertically movable rod H descends to effect the centering operation, but now because of the relative position of the jaws, which are coincidental with the ends of the line cast in the previous cycle, the second line will be centered with respect to the line previously cast.

After the casting operation, the first elevator ascends to transfer the line for distribution and, as it does so, the levers M and M are operated as before, but this operation will be an idle one, since the detent M" will just move rearwardly against the force exerted by its spring and without actuating the locking pawls D Consequently, when the vertically movable rod H ascends to effect the return movement of the jaw supports to their normal positions, the jaw F will follow the move ment of its jaw support under the action of the spring D as previously described.

At this point, it might be stated that the spacing member D between the disc D and the pulley D (see Fig. 12), by banking at its ends against the top portion D of the fixed bracket D acts to limit the degree of movement of the disc D and the pulley D in both directions.

The third line of the group, constituting the re,- turn address, is also one to be centered with respect to the first or longest line and, as the first elevator descends with this line to locate it in casting position, the star wheel K is again rotated in a clockwise direction through a distance equivalent to one tooth on the ratchet wheel K This movement of the star wheel, however, does not bring a prong into engagement with the slide actuating lever J Consequently, the slide J will maintain the machine conditioned, as in the previous cycle, with the result that this line will also be centered with respect to the first quadded line, in the same manner as the second line of the group.

. The next line to be cast will be the first line of a new group, but as the operations here will be the same as for the first line of the previous group, nothing further need be said.

Since the present improvements contemplate that the right hand jaw F will be located to the left of its normal position when the first elevator C descends to present the composed line between the jaws (as for instance, in casting those lines of a group which are centered with respect to the longest quadded line), it is obvious that the composed line can not be presented to the mold at the right end thereof, as usual, since, if it were, the right hand jaw would interfere. Consequently, in the present machine, provision is made for presenting the composed line to the mold adjacent the left end thereof, since, throughout the operation of the machine, the left hand jaw E will have a constant definite position at the beginning of each machine cycle. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the longer left hand finger B of the line delivery carriage B, instead of being movable with respect to said carriage, is, during the operation of the machine, locked to the carriage, although it is adjustable to the extent required to aline it with the left hand jaw for different settings of the latter when the carriage is in its leftmost position. However, once adjusted, it remains relatively fixed. The shorter right hand finger B instead of being relatively fixed as usual, is carried by a block B slidably mounted on the line delivery carriage, and the line and carriage are actuated to the left through mechanism connected to said block, i. e., when the line is presented between the two fingers B and B the right hand finger is moved to the left, pushing the line before it until the line, at its leading end, banks against the left hand finger. Thereupon, the line pushes the left hand finger B as well as the carriage B (the two being locked together), to the left until the carriage is arrested by banking at its left end against the usual banking screw B Since in this position of the carriage, the left hand finger by preadjustment will be in alincment with the left hand jaw, the first elevator, upon descending to the casting level, will locate the line adjacent said Jaw.

Since the composed lines will vary in length,

involving a corresponding variation in the movement of the right hand finger, provision is made for such varied movement in the delivery slide actuating mechanism. The mechanism includes the usual delivery starting lever B fastened to the usual delivery lever shaft B", the movement of which acts to start the machine in the usual Way. The lever B at its upper end is forked and spans a second lever B loosely mounted on the delivery lever shaft B". The lever B at its upper end is connected by a link B to another lever B pivotally connected at its upper end to the finger block B and, at its lower end, to a block 13 arranged to slide in vertical guideways B fixed to the machine frame. Assuming that the throw of the lever B is fixed and sufficient to accommodate the full range of movement of the right hand finger B variations in line length will be compensated for by the lever B the lower end of which will take different positions, depending upon the length of the composed line. There is a spring connection between the starting lever B and the lever B to cushion the parts and hold the delivery slide B firmly against the banking screw B there being sufficient overthrow between the levers for this purpose, and at the same time allowing full motion of the lever B to effect starting of the machine.

A group of slugs Z cast with the present improvements is illustrated in Fig. 23. As shown the slugs are of the fudge variety (the kind usually used for return address work), that is, they are formed with bevelled ends Z to provide surfaces for securing them in a fudge box or in a recess provided in the printing cylinder for the purpose, and are somewhat thinner at the base than at the casting edge so that when stacked, they will conform to the cylindrical surface of the printing member.

A fudge mold G, suitable for casting slugs of the character just mentioned, is shown in Figs. 4 and 21, and includes, as usual, a body portion G and a cap portion G defining the lower and upper inclined side walls of the mold slot, and a pair of intermediate liners G defining the end walls of the mold slot. The body portion of the mold is also provided at the front with an apron G presenting a horizontal rail G for cooperating with the lower projecting ears of the matrices during their alinement. The body and cap portions of the mold at the ends, as well as the intermediate liners, are formed with recesses G the inner ends of which are bevelled as at G", and these recesses, during the casting operations, are closed by blocks G and G formed with complementary bevelled portions for closing the mold slot at the ends in that portion thereof extending forwardly of the liners. The bevelled surfaces on the blocks form the bevelled ends Z on the slugs previously alluded to.

In the present instance and for the reason before stated, the blocks G and G12 are fixed to the vise frame rather than to the line clamping jaws as heretofore.

The block G for closing the mold at the right end is illustrated in Figs. 16, 19 and 22, and includes a horizontal body portion G complementary in shape to the recess G in the mold, a hori- Zontal tongue G arranged to seat in a complementary groove F formed in the right hand jaw F, and a vertical portion G extending beyond the top of the jaw and bolted at its upper end to a fixed portion of the vise frame. The groove F extends substantially the full length of the jaw, so that the jaw can move relatively to the fixed block. Consequently, regardless of the position the right hand jaw assumes during a quadding or centering operation, the block G will always be in position to seat in the recess in the mold and close the mold slot at the right. The block G is held in the groove in the jaw by a retaining plate F which, as shown best in Fig. 16, overlaps the tongued portion of the block and is held in place by a plurality of screws F extending through the jaw and threaded into said plate.

'The block (l for closing the mold slot at the left end (see Figs. 4 and 5) includes a body portion G with a bevelled face complementary to the bevelled faced recess in the mold, and a tongue G fitting into a complementary groove E in the left hand line clamping jaw E. The block is held against movement by a longitudinally disposed rod G passing through the groove E in the jaw and fastened at one end to the block G and at its other end to a bracket E fixed on the vise frame. The rod Gr passes through the bracket E and is held in place by a nut G screwed on the threaded end portion of the rod and bearing against the bracket. This arrangement permits the block G to be adjusted manually to accommodate molds of different sizes, it being understood that fudge molds of this character are usually somewhat shorter than the standard length molds.

As in the case of the right hand jaw groove F, the groove E extends substantially the full length of the left hand jaw, so that the jaw can move relatively to the block during a centering operation, while the block will always be in a position to close the mold slot at the end. Likewise, as in the case of the right hand jaw block G the block G is retained in the groove in the left hand jaw by a retaining plate E fitted in the jaw and held in place by screws E passing through the jaw and threaded into said plate (see Fig. 5). In the case of both jaws, it will be noted that the grooves F and E ,which accommodate the tongued portions of the blocks, are disposed above the level of the mold slot to insure that the active faces of the jaws will close the mold slot at the front during the casting of a quadded or centered line.

Having described the improved machine, it is thought a clearer understanding of its operation can be gained from the diagrammatic illustrations of Figs. 24 to 30. In Fig. 24, the parts are shown at the conclusion of the casting of a group of slugs constituting a return address. The left hand jaw E, its jaw support E and the right hand jaw support F are in their normal positions, while the right hand jaw F is located to the left of its normal position, as determined by the longest quadded line of the group just completed.

A line P of matrices, constituting the longest line of the return address next to be cast, is now sent into the machine and presented between the line clamping jaws adjacent the left hand jaw E, the right hand jaw F at the beginning of the cycle having been returned to its normal rightmost position. In Fig. 25, the parts are shown just before the quadding operation takes place. The line is now quadded, the right hand jaw and its jaw support being moved to the left until arrested by the banking of the jaw against the line, as shown in Fig. 26. After the casting operation takes place, the right hand jaw sup-port is returned to its normal position, while the jaw itself is locked in the position in which it was arrested by banking against the line P, i. e., in its quadding position.

These relative positions of the parts are illustrated in Fig. 27.

With the parts thus relatively located, a second line P of matrices is presented between the line casting jaws, adjacent the left hand jaw as before, and as it will be a shorter line than the first, there will be no question about its clearing the right hand jaw. It will be recalled that during the first part of the cycle in which the second line is presented in casting position, the machine is automatically conditioned for centering, while the jaw F is locked to its jaw support F and then almost immediately released for simultaneous movement with its jaw support as the locking mechanism which held the jaw in its quadding position is rendered inoperative.

The machine now being conditioned for centering, both jaws are moved equi-distantly toward each other by their respective jaw supports until arrested by the banking of the jaws against the opposite ends of the composed line, but now because of the initial position of the right hand jaw at the beginning of this cycle, the line P will be centered with respect to a new line uu which, as will be observed, is offset to the left of the line v--'0, the actual center line of the mold, the line uu actually coinciding with a line through the center of the composed line of matrices P from which the previous quadded line was cast.

After the slug has been cast from the line P, the jaw supports E and F are returned to their normal positions, the left hand jaw E to its normal fully retracted position, but the right hand jaw F to a position somewhat to the left of its normal fully retracted position, since it remains locked to its jaw support F This location of the parts is shown in Fig. 29.

A third composed line P (Fig. 29) is now presented between the jaws E and F and which may or may not be shorter than the line P although, of course, shorter than the first line P which, as previously stated, was the longest line of the group. During this cycle, the machine remains conditioned for a centering operation, and as the jaw E is still locked to its jaw support in the position determined by the longest quadded line P, the line P will be centered with respect to the line u-u, or what is the same thing, centered with respect to said longest quadded line P (see Fig. 30).

The next line, being the first of a new group, the machine will be automatically conditioned for quadding, while the locking mechanism between the jaw F and its jaw support F is rendered inoperative, allowing the jaw to return to its normal fully retracted position, which it does at once.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously, many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A slug casting machine including, in combination, left and right line clamping jaws, movable jaw supports therefor, means for adjusting the right hand jaw relatively to its movable jaw support to the left of its normal position, and means for locking the jaw to its support in its adjusted position.

2. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold, a pair of line clamping jaws movable equi-distantly toward each other for quadding at the ends of a line, mechanism for effecting such quadding movement of the jaws, and means for adjusting the right hand jaw toward the left to permit offset centering to the left of the mold slot center line.

3. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold, a pair of line clamping jaws movable equi-distantly toward each other for quadding at the ends of a line, jaw supports therefor,- mechanism acting through the jaw supports for efiecting such quadding movement of the jaws, and means for adjusting the right hand jaw to the left of its normal position on the jaw support to permit offset centering to the left of the mold slot center line.

4. A combination according to claim 3, wherein means are provided for locking the right hand jaw to its support in its adjusted position.

5. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding at one end of a line or each toward the other for quadding simultaneously at both ends of a line, mechanism for effecting such quadding movement of the jaws, and means acting automatically to condition the machine to quad a composed line at both ends in one machine cycle asymmetrically with respect to the mold slot in different positions depending upon the length of a line quadded at one end in a previous machine cycle.

6. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding at one end of a line or each toward the other for quadding simultaneously at both ends of a line, mechanism for effecting such quadding movement of the jaws, means acting automatically in one machine'cycle to set the jaw active in quadding at one end of a composed line in a given location depending upon the length of said line, and means for conditioning the machine to quad a line at both ends in a subsequent machine cycle without disturbing the set position of said jaw.

'7. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding and movable each equi-distantly toward the other for centering, mechanism for effecting such quadding and centering movement of the jaws, and means acting automatically to condition the machine to center a composed line in one cycle with respect to a line quadded in a previous cycle.

8. A slug casting machine including, in cornbination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding and movable each equi-distantly toward the other for centering, mechanism for effecting such quadding and centering movement of the jaws, means acting automatically in one machine cycle to set the jaw active in quadding at one end of a composed line in a location coincidental with the end of said quadded line, and means for conditioning the machine to move the jaws equi-distantly in a subsequent machine cycle without disturbing the set location of said jaw, to center a composed line with respect to the quadded line.

9. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the conditioning means is actuated automatically.

10. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the jaw automatically setin alocation depending upon the length of the quadded line is the right hand jaw.

11. A slug castingmachine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, jaw supports therefor, means acting in one machine cycle for automatically adjusting one of said jaws with respect to its jaw support to a given position depending upon the length of a composed line, and means for maintaining said adjustment of the jaw during casting in subsequent machine cycles.

12. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, jaw supports therefor, means acting in one machine cycle for automatically adjusting one of said jaws with respect to its jaw support to a given position depending upon the length of a composed, line, means for maintaining said adjustment of the jaw during a casting operation in a subsequent machine cycle, and means for automatical- 1y restoring the jaw to its normal position after such casting operation.

13. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, jaw supports therefor, means acting in one machine cycle for automatically adjusting one of said jaws with respect to its jaw support to a given position depending upon the length of a composed line, means for maintaining said adjustment of the jaw during a casting operation in a subsequent machine cycle, and means for automatically restoring the jaw to its normal position in still another machine cycle.

14. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support there for, means for moving the jaw and jaw support as a unit to quad out a line at the end, and means for locking the jaw in its quadding position while allowing the jaw support to return to normal position.

15. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support therefor, means for moving the jaw and jaw support as a unit to quad out a line at the end, and means arranged on the vise frame for locking the jaw in its quadding position while allowing the jaw support to return to normal position.

16. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support therefor, means for moving the jaw and jaw support as a unit to quad out a line at the end, means acting during one machine cycle to lock the jaw in its quadding position while allowing the jaw support to return to normal position, and means for maintaining said relative positions of adjustment of the jaw and jaw support during a subsequent machine cycle.

1'7. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support therefor, means for moving the jaw and jaw support as a unit to quad out a line at the end, means acting during one machine cycle to lock the jaw in its quadding position While allowing the jaw support to return to normal position, means for maintaining said relative positions of adjustment of the jaw and jaw support during a subsequent machine cycle, and means for releasing the jaw to permit simultaneous movement of the jaw and jaw support while thus adjusted.

18. A slug .casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support therefor, means for moving the jaw and jaw support as a unit to quad out a line at the end, means arranged on the vise frame and acting during one machine cycle to lock thejaw in its quadding position while allowing the jaw support to return to normal position, means for maintaining said relative positions of adjustment of the jaw and jaw support during a subsequent machine cycle, and means for releasing the jaw to permit simultaneous movement of the jaw and jaw support while thus adjusted.

19. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a line clamping jaw, a support therefor, means for moving the jaw and jawsupport as a unit to quad out a line at the end, means acting during one machine cycle to lock the jaw in its quadding position while allowing the jaw support to return tonormal position, means adapted during a subsequent machine cycle automatically to couple the jaw and jaw support in their relative position of adjustment, and means likewise adapted during said machine cycle to release the jaw to permit simultaneous movement of the jaw and jaw support while thus adjusted.

20. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, jaw supports therefor,,one of said jaws being adjustable relatively to its jaw support, means for coupling said jaw and jaw support in their diiferent positions of adjustment, means acting through the respective jaw supports for moving the relatively adjustable jaw toward the other jaw for quadding at one end of a line, and for moving both jaws equi-distantly toward each other for "quadding at both ends of a line, mechanism for conditioning the machine for one quadding operation or the other, means controlled by the conditioning mechanism. and adapted when the machine is conditioned for quadding at one end of the line to adjust the jaw relatively to its jaw support by retaining said jaw in its quadding position as the jaw support is returned to normal position, means likewise controlled by the conditioning mechanism and adapted when the machine is conditioned for quadding with both jaws to render the coupling means operative to couple the jaw with its jaw support in their adjusted positions, and means for rendering the jaw retaining means ineffective so as to permit simultaneous movement of the jaw and jaw support while thus adjusted.

21. A slug casting machineincluding, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, jaw supports therefor, one of said jaws beingadjustable relatively to its jaw support, means for coupling said jaw and jaw support in their different positions of adjustment, means acting through the respective jaw supports for moving the relatively adjustable jaw toward the other jaw for quadding at one end of a line, and for moving both jaws equi-distantly toward each other for quadding at both ends of a line, mechanism for conditioning the machine for one quaddingoperation or the other, means controlled by the conditioning mechanism and adapted when the machine is conditioned for quadding at one end of the line to render the coupling means inoperative and to adjust the jaw relatively to its jaw support by retaining said jaw in its quadding position as the jaw support is returned to normal position, means likewise controlled by the conditioning mechanism and adapted when the machine is conditioned for quadding with both jaws to render the coupling means operative to couple the jaw with its jaw support in their adjusted positions, and means for rendering the jaw retaining means ineffective so as to permit simultaneous movement of the jaw and jaw-support while thus adjusted. l i

22. A. combination according to claim 21, wherein means are provided for returning the relatively adjustable jaw to its normal position with respect to the jaw support when the coupling means is rendered inoperative in the event said jaw is in some position of adjustment other than normal.

23. A combination according to claim 20, wherein the means for effecting relative adjustment .of the jaw and jaw support includes spring pressed pawl devices operative when the machine is conditioned for quadding at one end of a line to retain the jaw in a position determined by the length of the quadded line while permitting the jaw support to return to normal position after the quadding operation.

24. A combination according to claim 20, wherein the means for effecting relative adjustment of the jaw and jaw support includes a rotatable disk mounted on a fixed part of the machine and connected with the jaw for positive operation one by the other, and means operative when the machine is conditioned for quadding at one end of the line to lock the disk and consequently the jaw in one position or another as determined by the extent of quadding movement of the jaw.

25. A combination according to claim 21, wherein the means for eiiecting relative adjustment of the jaw and jaw support includes a rotatable disk mounted on a fixed part of the machine and connected with the jaw for positive operation one by the other, and means operating through the disk for returning the jaw to its normal position with respect to the jaw support when the coupling means is rendered inoperative in the event said jaw is in some position of adjustment other than normal.

26. A combination according to claim 20, wherein the conditioning mechanism is set for conditioning the machine for quadding at one end of the line or at both ends of the line automatically according to a prearranged sequence.

2'7. A combination according to claim 20, wherein the conditioning mechanism includes a shiftable slide adjustable to one position or an- ,other depending upon whether quadding at one end or at both ends of a line is desired, and automatic means for efiecting the adjustment of said slide according to a prearranged sequence.

, 28. A combination according to claim; 20, wherein there is provided automatic means for operating the conditioning mechanism to condition the machine for quadding at one end of the line or at both ends of the line according to a prearranged sequence, said automatic means being actuated from the first elevator.

29. A combination according to claim 21, wherein the conditioning mechanism includes a device adjustable prior to the quadding movement of the jaws to one position or another depending upon whether the line is to be quadded at one end or at both ends, and means operated by said device for rendering the coupling means ineffective when said device is adjusted to condi-; tion the machine for quadding at one end of the line.-

fective when said device is adjusted to set the machine for quadding at one end of the line and for conditioning the jaw retaining means for operation, and means for operating the jaw retaining means after the quadding movement of the jaw has been completed.

31. A combination according to claim 21, wherein the conditioning mechanism includes a device adjustable prior to the quadding movement of the jaws to one position or another depending upon whether the line is to be quadded at one end or at both ends, and means controlled by said device and operable when the device is adjusted to condition the machine for quadding at both ends of the line to render the coupling means effective to couple the adjustable jaw and its jaw support together for operation as a unit.

32. A combination according to claim 21, wherein the conditioning mechanism includes a device adjustable prior to the quadding movement of the jaws to one position or another depending upon Whether the line is to be quadded at one end or at both ends, and means controlled by said device and operable when the device is adjusted to condition the machine for quadding at both ends of the line to render the coupling means effective to couple the adjustable jaw and its jaw support together for operation as a unit, and to release the jaw restraining means in the event the latter has been active in effecting relative adjustment of the jaw and jaw support.

33. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws, one movable toward the other for quadding, mechanism to effect such quadding movement of the jaw, means for conditioning said mechanism for a quadding operation, devices for actuating the conditioning mechanism automatically during given casting cycles according to a prearranged sequence, and means including a periodically operated part of the machine for actuating said devices.

34. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable each toward the other for quadding at both ends of the line, mechanism for effecting such quadding movement of the jaws, means for conditioning said mechanism for a quadding operation, devices for actuating the conditioning mechanism automatically during given casting cycles according to a prearranged sequence, and means including a periodically operated part of the machine for actuating said devices.

35. A slug casting machine including, in conibination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one relatively to the other for quadding at one end of a line or each movable equi-distantly toward the other for quadding at both ends of the line, mechanism to effect such quadding movements of the jaw, means for conditioning said mechanism for quadding at one end of the line or at both ends of the line, means for actuating the conditioning mechanism. automatically according to a prearranged sequence, and means including a periodically operated part of the machine for operating said devices.

36. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding at one end of a line or each toward the other for quadding at both ends of the line, mechanism to effect such quadding movements of the jaws, means for conditioning said mechanism for one quadding operation or the other, and devices actuated by a periodically operating part of the machine for automatically setting the conditioning mechanism to cast a plurality of groups of lines quadded at one end or at both ends according to a prearranged sequence.

37. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a pair of line clamping jaws movable one toward the other for quadding at one end of a line or each toward the other for quadding at both ends of the line, mechanism to effect such quadding movements of the jaws, means for conditioning said mechanism for one quadding operation or the other, and devices in the machine operable to set the conditioning mechanism automatically to quad in successive machine cycles a group of lines at one end or at both ends as desired, and adapted automatically in subsequent successive machine cyclesv to quad a group of lines at one end or at both ends in the same sequence.

38. A combination according to claim 35, wherein the devices for automatically actuating the conditioning mechanism includes a star wheel interchangeable with different star wheels depending on the prearranged sequence desired.

39. A slug casting machine including, in combination, an assembler wherein a line of matrices is composed, a vertically movable line transporter for presenting the composed line between a pair of line clamping jaws and in casting relation with the mold, an intermediate line delivery carriage for delivering the composed line from the assembler to the line transporter, and means associated with the line delivery carriage forlocating the line, regardless of its length, in the line transporter in a position for presentation to the mold adjacent the left hand jaw.

40. A combination according to claim 39, wherein the line locating means associated with the line delivery carriage includes a relatively fixed left hand finger and a relatively movable right hand. finger between which the composed line is located by the assembler, said left hand .finger being located in alinement with the left hand jaw when the carriage is in line delivery position, and means for moving the right hand finger to push the line into contact with the left hand finger as the line is carried from the assembler to the line transporter.

41. A combination according to claim 39, wherein the line locating means associated with the line delivery carriage includes a relatively fixed left hand finger and a relatively movable right hand finger between which the composed line is located by the assembler, said left hand finger being located in alinement with the left hand jaw when the carriage is in line delivery position, and means for moving the right hand finger to push the line into contact with the left handfinge'r as the line is carried from the assembler to the line transporter, said means including a bar having a pivotal connection at one end with the right hand finger and having its other end adjustable to accommodate lines of diiferent measure;

42. A' slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold recessed at the end, a block mounted independently of the mold and adapted to seat in said recess to close the mold slot at the end, and a relatively movable line clamping jaw cooperatively associated with said block for closing the mold slot at the front when lines of less than full measure are cast.

' 43'. A slug casting machine including, in combination, a slotted mold recessed at the end, a block secured to afixed part of the machine and adapted to seat in said recess to close the mold slot at the end, and a relatively movable line 

